any mental reservation or purpose of evasion: So help me God."

If he be a naturalized citizen, he must give full statistics; his father's name, birth date, birth place, and present residence. When his father sailed from the foreign country and his arrival. Then he must swear, if he be a naturalized citizen, that he was entered as a citizen of the United States on such and such a date, at such such and such a court, and that he is the identical person described in said certificate. Furthermore, there is a description required of the applicant, both naturalized and native born, as follows, (1) age, (2) stature, (3) forehead, (4) eyes, (5) nose, (6) distinguishing marks, (7) mouth, (8) chin, (9) hair, (10 Complexion, (11) face.

In addition to all this there must be a sworn affidavit from a witness, that the person obtaining the passport has given correct knowledge, etc., etc. On the bottom of the application there must be a photograph pasted of the applicant.

Some wonder may be expressed as to the government requirements being so full and explicit; yet when we realize that the person going abroad carries with him or her, under such circumstances, the protection of the whole government of the United States, there is small wonder that identification must be thorough and complete. In time of war all the ships and army of the United States, would defend the United States citizen, whether native born or naturalized, and the injury to him or her would be avenged by the Nation without question. Such protection is surely worthy of the utmost care and the honest identification of the citizen going abroad, because of the seriousness involved in the protection of that citizen.

There is a lesson in all, this, that should appeal to the citizen of the Church and kingdom of God. If an earthly government requires scrupulous proofs and records of each citizen within its border, how much more important is the same information to the Church government of

God, who has required from the days of Adam, that His sons should keep and prepare their records and genealogy. The young missionary who goes abroad should be equipped not only with his own records and vital statistics, it would be well to carry along the same information concerning his parents. At any time in his travels he may have occasion to require that additional information; and at least, it is the part of wisdom to be supplied with such information.

Home Sources of Information.

When statistical data cannot be found in family records, the missionary has several sources where he may collect the missing data. First, his ward clerk, should be able to furnish birth date and birth place; while ward baptismal dates are usually obtainable.

Since 1907, ward and Stake statistics have been filed in the Historian's office, brought up there from the Presiding Bishop's office. Our Genealogical Library possesses an index of all Temple endowments, and this often gives maiden names of parents who may be dead, with their required facts. The Genealogical Library should also be visited to acquaint the missionary with its stores of genealogical information, and the methods of obtaining it, together with the addresses of some of similar institutions situated in the large cities of Europe and America.

Government offices supply some valuable genealogical points. Since the passage of the law of 1907, births, deaths, and marriages, have been filed in state and government offices. Birth and death statistics are now centralized in the office of the State Board of health. The marriage data is found in the County Clerk's office. Government registrars are accountable to the State and county officers for the performance of these duties.

If the missionary is wise enough to visit these sources of genealogical records and information, in his own state, if he is prepared and has received his en

dowments, and his passport, he is now ready to enter his field of labor.

The Convert.

A caution should always be voiced to any young missionary on reaching his field of labor. He is called to preach the Gospel to the living, not to obtain records on his or any other person's family line. Where ever he is, he is subjected strictly and wholly to the counsel of those who are over him in the mission. Yet there are two circumstances which may justify him in undertaking some labor and explanation to converts, and possibly, to make a search for his own ancestors.

If, at the close of his mission, or at any other time his President gives his full approval and if he himself or his family, who have kept him upon his mission, are willing that he should spend time and means in genealogical labor, he would be at liberty to pursue this greatly needed occupation. Otherwise he had best confine himself to his missionary duties.

Another reason would certainly justify him in acquainting himself with genealogical conditions, whereever he may be.

After the principle of Salvation for the Dead has been taught to the converts, such converts frequently cry out, as did the converted Saints on the day of Pentecost: "Men and Brethren what shall we do! To save our dead?" The missionary almost invariably replies, "When you reach Zion, they will tell you there what to do."

How regretable and how wasteful is such a proceeding! It is a great pity that a few facts are not to be understood by the poor convert ere he reaches Zion. For after he arrives here, he learns, upon inquiry, that he must pay large sums of money in order to secure the records and information, which he himself might have obtained with some effort and little expenditure of means, in his own home town.

It is to obviate these difficulties that the young missionary should know how to answer the vital ques

tion, asked by the convert, who believes and accepts the principle of Salvation for the Dead. What may the convert do where shall he apply for information?

1. The convert should be advised first to correspond with the genealogical library where he may learn if there is someone of his surname or even family, working on that particular family line. If someone should be so engaged, duplication of names and labor with the attendant expense might be avoided through correspondence of the two parties interested.

2. The convert should visit the Public or Government Library of his own home town. Here are to be found directories with addresses of inhabitants. Many of these directories go back 50 years. Genealogical printed records and books are frequently found in these libraries.

3. A visit to the Parish church where the convert and his parents have worshiped will give valuable information.

4. Old friends, relatives and elderly people in the parish may be profitable to visit and all data furnished should be set down carefully with date and source of information.

5. Not only Churches, but cemeteries yield good results very frequently.

6. The Civil and government record offices in county, shires, towns, government capitals, supply vast stores of vital statistics.

7. The convert might well afford to take a little trip to certain towns or to the capital city of his state or nation where he can personally visit record offices, great libraries, both general and genealogical and where skilled attendants will assist him in acquiring the information sought.

All of this information should be promptly recorded. Blank books may be had at the Genealogical Society, with proper space for recording all required data. Full information concerning all these points will be found in the Chapters of this Handbook.

Both convert and missionary will be the richer intellectually and spiritually, from visiting the sources indicated, vision will be broadened, and faith will be deepened. In addition, all parties concerned may be assisted in discharging the great responsibility, "the greatest of all responsibilities," declared the Prophet Joseph Smith, "which rests upon the shoulders of the Saints; it is to redeem their Dead."